tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39148652293116341572017-07-23T04:53:10.079-04:00Kim Idol*Kim Idolnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914865229311634157.post-90153063517329689962015-01-25T13:59:00.000-05:002015-01-25T13:59:15.934-05:00No Regrets?<div style="text-align: center;">I'll admit that this post is partially fueled by watching the US Figure Skating Championships yesterday afternoon and all of last night. But really, they just gave me the push I needed to write on a topic I've been thinking about a lot lately-- regret.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know regret has absolutely no use for me in my life. I know that it is just negative energy I am harboring and using against myself. I know that if I just let things go, I would feel a lot better. But right now, I need to dwell on my regret a little bit. Maybe writing about it will be therapeutic...or maybe not. We'll see.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I regret not returning to my school in 2013 to continue my journey to become a professional ballet dancer.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not so much that I made the conscious decision to 'quit' dancing, but that summer I returned home injured (yet again), burnt out, and completely discouraged by the lack of attention I'd gotten/development I felt I hadn't made at my summer intensive. I told my mom that I wanted to take a break for the rest of the summer and see how things felt. When it came time to return to school, I didn't feel ready. I was still hurting, more mentally than physically at that time. So, I didn't go. I worked at the dance studio I grew up in, teaching pre-school classes and enjoyed "normal life" (aka a life not revolving around ballet) for a while. I would proudly announce that I wasn't attending my school anymore, that I was unhappy dancing, so I was going to turn my life around and find something that made me happier.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Slowly but surely, I began to miss it. Dance magazines that I'd long stopped paying for still found their way to my doorstep, only for me to browse through them and see multiple people I know personally in each issue. I went to see performances at my old school, and the electricity in the air was exactly the same as the countless times I'd performed. I felt how everything was the same without me there, but everything was so different at the same time. To this day, I can't go to a performance without crying because I feel a gaping hole in my life without ballet. At first, I was mad about this. I was mad that my teachers didn't teach me to be a person outside of being a dancer. I was mad that, no matter if I decided to quit ballet at age 19 or age 50, I would feel a paralyzing loss of identity. But now, I just feel sadness. I am sad that I'm missing opportunities in a life I could've had. I'm sad that I can't find any other activity, hobby, or job that gives me a sense of purpose and meaning in my life. I'm sad that a lot of people who I loved and still love dearly are moving on in life and I feel like I'm on a raft in the middle of the ocean, helpless, unable to catch up.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The ship has sailed, but a part of me still holds on to that dream. It may even be a good thing that an injury prevents me from taking dance classes at the moment, even though I crave them, because they remind me of what once was, and what could have been. They allow me to escape back to a time where I was so sure of myself and where I was going. However, the return to reality after that escape is even more painful.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are other things I regret, like returning home from Australia early and not saying things that I really wanted to say, but the regret I feel pertaining to dance is by far the one that impacts my life the most.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">As I mentioned earlier, when I first 'quit' (I keep putting that in quotation marks because I don't think I, or anyone else can really QUIT dance), I boasted about the full, happy life I would lead without dance governing my every decision. I look back on that, and I see that it was foolish. I can't say I blame myself for being that way, but I can say that I was overly optimistic about how easy finding a new passion in life would be. I thought that once I had free time, a new path would fall right into my lap and I would be on my way to success and fulfillment in another area.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">But that's not how it works. Passions are sometimes once in a lifetime, and maybe my only true passion was dance, and maybe I'll feel a little less "me" without it for the rest of my life.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the meantime, I'm trying to enjoy life for what it is. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To end this post on a slightly happier note, there are plenty of quotes that help me find solace in times like these.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote class="tr_bq">"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." -E.E.Cummings</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">"I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again." -F. Scott Fitzgerald</blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/dd/d6/67/ddd6673cef8173588aa85cfaadcba9b9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/dd/d6/67/ddd6673cef8173588aa85cfaadcba9b9.jpg" height="292" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;If you have any thoughts or regrets you'd like to extinguish in the comments, feel free. I will be glad to hear any stories to make me feel a little less like a ball of gloom. I hope you're happy where you are, wherever that may be.</div><div style="text-align: center;">xx Kim</div>Kim Idolhttps://plus.google.com/112175488622455254429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914865229311634157.post-25134039954141849512014-10-10T13:19:00.000-04:002014-10-10T13:19:35.768-04:00Short Hair Club<div style="text-align: center;">Recently, I cut 20 inches off of my hair and donated it to <a href="http://childrenwithhairloss.us/" target="_blank">Children With Hair Loss</a>, an organization that provides children with medical conditions that cause hair loss with hair pieces at absolutely not cost. (Note: the very popular foundation, "Locks of Love" charges children and their families varying fees based on financial need, which are sometimes outright ridiculous.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;But enough of that!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've had long hair pretty much ever since I surpassed the age of 5 and it grew long enough to be considered "long hair". Over the past year or two, however, I let it grow with absolutely no cuts or trims. It wasn't really a conscious decision, I just saw no reason to cut it as the ends were relatively healthy.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Every once in a while the idea popped up in my mind to make the big chop, but I was always much too uncertain to actually go through with it.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I took this photo after I stayed up all night stuck in the Dallas airport due to thunderstorms- the day I was finally coming home after a very long journey from Australia and visiting a friend in California.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHR7luU7oUc/VDgRuIRPJ6I/AAAAAAAAAVw/6HtVnlOLulk/s1600/dfwhair.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHR7luU7oUc/VDgRuIRPJ6I/AAAAAAAAAVw/6HtVnlOLulk/s1600/dfwhair.PNG" height="320" width="320" />&nbsp;</a></td><td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td><td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td><td style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">from <a href="http://instagram.com/kimidol" target="_blank">my instagram</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">As you can see, it was EXTREMELY long! It may be hard to see without me being able to point it out to you, but there's a wave in my hair that goes about the same angle as my jaw just under it and when I noticed that in the photo I wanted to get it cut to that length so badly!</div><div style="text-align: center;">It took a couple more months and a ponytail accidentally shut in the dryer door (so glam), but I finally decided I wanted to cut my hair. I knew all along I wanted to donate it, so I was beyond excited!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RyA9V5wQZ1w/VDgS7LX-HaI/AAAAAAAAAV4/B9qYKeg_4Fs/s1600/hair%2Bbefore%2Bafter.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RyA9V5wQZ1w/VDgS7LX-HaI/AAAAAAAAAV4/B9qYKeg_4Fs/s1600/hair%2Bbefore%2Bafter.PNG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I actually don't even think the before and after picture does the change justice! 20 inches is a LOT of hair, and I definitely felt the difference! I would say my hair is actually a bit shorter than it looks in the after picture, because it was still damp there and was weighed down a bit. It doesn't touch my shoulders!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I felt SO happy the entire day after my haircut (I still enjoy it now, it was just a strange euphoria right after I cut it!)&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">They say if you're ready for some change in your life, a haircut can get the ball rolling. Well, I got the haircut part down, so COME AT ME LIFE! Hehe :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That's all for now! You can find out more about Children With Hair Loss and how to donate by visiting their website <a href="http://childrenwithhairloss.us/" target="_blank">here</a>. Also just gonna slip in a cheeky little video I made explaining much of the same stuff I wrote out here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yK3PgXAmHGU?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' />&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;I'll write to ya soon, promise :)&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">xxoxo Kim </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Kim Idolhttps://plus.google.com/112175488622455254429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914865229311634157.post-48128982434248573242014-07-09T13:11:00.000-04:002014-07-09T13:14:12.711-04:00Things That Stop You Dreaming<div style="text-align: center;">It's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that.</div><div style="text-align: center;">To say the least, a lot has changed since my last blog post. I am no longer in Australia (a fact that I find is becoming more sad for me with each passing day), I am no longer a nanny, and I am once again plopped down into the middle of the field of life without any pathways around me telling me where to go.<br />Things <strike>don't always</strike> never turn out the way you expect them to.<br />I can't decide if that's a good or a bad thing, because, against the more logical part of my brain, I do believe things "happen for a reason". Not necessarily a predetermined or divine reason, but a reason. One door closes, another one opens; or at least there was very good reason to close the first door.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://38.media.tumblr.com/46a39891e3648f7926fa6cb60cd1abb9/tumblr_mze3gi1KMz1sjt5cjo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://38.media.tumblr.com/46a39891e3648f7926fa6cb60cd1abb9/tumblr_mze3gi1KMz1sjt5cjo1_500.jpg" height="266" width="400" />&nbsp;</a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><i>“Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.”</i><br />— Vincent van Gogh</blockquote>Source: <a href="http://38.media.tumblr.com/46a39891e3648f7926fa6cb60cd1abb9/tumblr_mze3gi1KMz1sjt5cjo1_500.jpg" target="_blank">tumblr </a></td></tr></tbody></table>Perhaps knowing where you stand is the first step to begin walking?<br />It's funny; as I've gotten older, I've become less and less certain about the direction in which my life is headed. In high school, I was 100% certain I was going to have a career as a ballet dancer. I knew this wasn't the end-all, be-all, that I'd retire much earlier than the average person and have to find something else to do with my life- but for the time being, I was set. <br />It wasn't until a year ago that I even began to consider this wasn't my outcome. Now, I'm still not ready to let that go even though the possibility is, practically speaking, pretty much out the window. <br /><br />It is both a terrifying and exhilarating thing, realizing that you can change your life whenever you want to. <br />And now, here I am, back where I began, except I've added some (or a lot of) miles to my imaginary jet-setter card, and I'm not any more certain about where to go next than I was before I left.<br /><br />I am also realizing more and more each day that this is completely and utterly normal. So common, in fact, that talking about it could almost seem pointless and mundane.<br />That doesn't make it feel any better.<br />I don't expect or even want a sudden wave of understanding and direction to come into my life. I get that this is how it's supposed to be, almost like a right of passage, but that still. Doesn't. Mean. It. Doesn't. Suck.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><i><span class="title">"Nothing will ruin your 20’s more than thinking you should have your life together already."</span> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">-Anonymous</span></span></b></blockquote>So, that's where I'm standing, currently.<br />How are you standing lately? Joining me in the fields, or sprinting full speed down your precious, finally prevalent path?<br />Either way, I applaud you, just for being.<br />xoxoxx Kim<br /><span class="title"><br /></span></div><br />Kim Idolhttps://plus.google.com/112175488622455254429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914865229311634157.post-48730236319776647332014-04-08T06:34:00.004-04:002014-04-08T06:37:12.170-04:00Little World/Big World<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7ryxeAjsA1qzi9p6o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7ryxeAjsA1qzi9p6o1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="https://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7ryxeAjsA1qzi9p6o1_500.jpg" target="_blank">tumblr</a></td></tr></tbody></table>It's weird-&nbsp; no matter how far from home I go, I still don't feel like I'm somewhere else. I know in my mind I'm in oz, I can prove it to myself on a map or just by looking outside the window, but I'm still me and this is my present consciousness. So, even though things are different, part of me feels the same.<br /><br />I can take ballet or yoga anywhere in the world, and while some things are different, the classes are fundamentally the same. People who speak in different languages than me or with different accents, people who've never set foot in America or heard of the state I live in-we're all unified when we come together to take a class. It doesn't feel any different than getting a new teacher at home would. I think I should revel in these constants as I start to feel as disconnected as I do right now.<br /><br />I really do love exploring new places as a completely unnamed, "strange" person. Alone, unattatched to everything...it's cool. But, you can only go to the beach alone so many times before you just get plain lonely. Since I'm not attending uni or anything over here, I'm kind of in an odd spot for meeting people my age.&nbsp; Someone fly over and be my companion. We can take on the world.<br /><br />"Dahlin'" has quickly become my favorite aussie slang (it's just darling, but the way they pronounce it is very endearing). This post is becoming a a list of random thoughts, hope that's alright :p<br /><br />It's so interesting communicating with my mom in a different way than I am used to. It almost feels like we're getting closer, because in reading and writing emails, I think we both say things we tended to keep to ourselves when we were living under the same roof. <br /><br />I am feeling very small in our world at the moment--I don't really see that as a good or a bad thing. It just feels kind of funny, like I'm in limbo. It seems the "I moved to the other side of the world" existential crisis (as well as the jet lag) has come on a bit late, and it took me by surprise.<br /><br />Still striving to be grateful every day though.<br /><br />Love from this little heart on a tuesday evening,<br />xx KimKim Idolhttps://plus.google.com/112175488622455254429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914865229311634157.post-52821230291086413962014-03-28T20:46:00.002-04:002014-03-30T07:50:47.678-04:00Week 1 of Aussie Life<div style="text-align: center;">Phewwwwww! We have a lot to catch up on! Today I will have been in aussie for a week, and it seems like so much longer! The day I arrived, we explored a bit of the areas up and down the coastline, and I took this picture from a lookout. (I realize the picture doesn't really fit on this blog layout but I can't be bothered to figure out how to fix it and I also believe the pictures deserve to be full sized!)</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fm207v3sStk/UzVxPpUvAaI/AAAAAAAAAOY/SKf9nJenlV0/s1600/coolangatta+lookout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fm207v3sStk/UzVxPpUvAaI/AAAAAAAAAOY/SKf9nJenlV0/s1600/coolangatta+lookout.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonus points if you noticed the Aussie flag!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Most of the week was spent sleeping, settling in, picking up the kiddos from school, and other necessary tasks. On wednesday I started to feel really run down, because I felt like I hadn't had a single second to just sit and think to myself! When so much is going on around you, and you're trying to take everything in, it gets really overwhelming. Yesterday (friday) I had pretty much all day to myself and I feel wayy way better for it.&nbsp;</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NRKxPA6FRzA/UzVxsJaoFBI/AAAAAAAAAOg/nxd1G-iEeTI/s1600/origami+with+kess.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NRKxPA6FRzA/UzVxsJaoFBI/AAAAAAAAAOg/nxd1G-iEeTI/s1600/origami+with+kess.PNG" height="314" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Origami time with the little man &lt;3</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">FINALLY did some shopping! If you didn't know, there's a Target here in Australia- it's got completely different brands and everything from American Target, but it's pretty comparable in how good it is (I'm a Target enthusiast). The mall I went to had some great clothing stores, it seems like the fashion here is pretty awesome, in my opinion!&nbsp;</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJY7ArvI8vg/UzVyCGTNMNI/AAAAAAAAAOo/8CLz2lbvnDE/s1600/cafe+sign.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJY7ArvI8vg/UzVyCGTNMNI/AAAAAAAAAOo/8CLz2lbvnDE/s1600/cafe+sign.jpeg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kinda sign!</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">I also went to Lush and maybe sort of, kind of, went a little bit crazy. Who can blame me when everything is so amazing?! I plan on reviewing some of the things I got on here once I've used them for a while.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-olXN8YsZ25g/UzVyZbIVLlI/AAAAAAAAAOw/VHrIQP0mYiw/s1600/LUSH.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-olXN8YsZ25g/UzVyZbIVLlI/AAAAAAAAAOw/VHrIQP0mYiw/s1600/LUSH.jpeg" height="475" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday I also went for my first run in aus to a ridiculously beautiful park with a lake. Let me tell you, the US needs to take notes on Australian parks and playgrounds! The park I went to today was not only beautiful, but it also had playground-style (think presidential fitness tests in elementary school) exercise equipment every 80 feet or so down the pathway.&nbsp; It was so fun just walking down and trying all of them out! Talk about promoting fitness and a healthy lifestyle!&nbsp;</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3_5SxkYn-k/UzYXOAtHe1I/AAAAAAAAAPM/wtl6JcVKrMc/s1600/parktrees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L3_5SxkYn-k/UzYXOAtHe1I/AAAAAAAAAPM/wtl6JcVKrMc/s1600/parktrees.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think it's cool that Aussie trees are different than American trees. I'm thrilling, I know.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bPAxfB0tCrI/UzYXTWgvCWI/AAAAAAAAAPc/Sj7_aEElFhs/s1600/parkprettiness.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bPAxfB0tCrI/UzYXTWgvCWI/AAAAAAAAAPc/Sj7_aEElFhs/s1600/parkprettiness.jpeg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out dat sky tho</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NmKCOjPEXM/UzYXPnXBAII/AAAAAAAAAPU/Agq6U-WnLpI/s1600/park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NmKCOjPEXM/UzYXPnXBAII/AAAAAAAAAPU/Agq6U-WnLpI/s1600/park.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greeeeeeeeeeennnnnnn</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">That's a lot of pictures, but so much has happened! For now I'll leave this.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So far, Australia has proved to be an incredible place, but who really doubted that? It is really interesting seeing a completely different way of life, but it is also interesting to see similarities where I didn't expect to see them. If you get the chance to come here, do it. I'll say that about anywhere I go, because life really isn't meant to be lived in one place, but it's still valid!</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Have an amazing weekend! Sending my love to everyone back home and all around the world</div><div style="text-align: center;">xx Kim<br /><br />pssssssst; you can also follow my blog on bloglovin, which is a site that makes it a bit easier to see all the blogs you want to read, in my opinion. <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12030465/?claim=hj3tgtj38ch" target="_blank">Follow my blog with Bloglovin here. </a></div>Kim Idolhttps://plus.google.com/112175488622455254429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914865229311634157.post-9851121312918499692014-03-21T01:12:00.000-04:002014-03-21T01:12:07.181-04:00Thoughts From LAXI hopped off the plane at LAX...and paid 11 bucks for a cold sandwich. Hah! Okay, I was really hungry, and it wasn't that bad, so I don't mind. I do wish that I could explore LA while I'm here, but I'll just have to come back ;)<br /><br />Leaving day was beyond hectic. On top of not wanting to wake up, there was final packing, the drive to the airport, the rush when you think you may be late-- all of those wonderful things. By the time I got on my flight, I was beyond frazzled and anxious for a reason I couldn't pinpoint. My mom cried at the airport, which for some reason I wasn't expecting and was not at all prepared for. I feel so bad leaving her alone at home, but I know that this will be a great adventure.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GNrgqCIJ5Zc/UyvJyme0amI/AAAAAAAAAOE/Jkra0qujGaE/s1600/kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GNrgqCIJ5Zc/UyvJyme0amI/AAAAAAAAAOE/Jkra0qujGaE/s1600/kitty.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitty today, just before I left &lt;3</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Now, if you are like me and find yourself hanging on your last wire when you board a plane, or if you are just a nervous flyer (which I'm not) I do have some advice: meditate.<br />A lot of people say it's just too hard for them to meditate, but that's kind of a given. It's a practice. I use the&nbsp; "Smiling Mind" app- a voice guides you through the entire thing and you advance to next levels as you get more comfortable, plus you can choose a session from just 5 minutes up to 45 minutes-anytime, anywhere! For example, On. That. Plane. As soon as my phone could be turned on again, I powered up and launched the app and meditated for 30 minutes. It's absolutely ridiculous how much better I felt afterwards. Now, 30 minutes is pretty long, even for someone who regularly meditates, and 5-10 minutes would definitely do you just as good.<br />Now for the long-haul flight. See you on the other side!<br />xx KimKim Idolhttps://plus.google.com/112175488622455254429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914865229311634157.post-75090671820003963592014-03-14T15:37:00.002-04:002014-03-14T15:38:23.238-04:00On to the Other Side of the World...I mentioned in my last post that I was moving "to the other side of the world"... and I wasn't even exaggerating a little bit!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H7cxh4fij64/UyCRmVSAO9I/AAAAAAAAANA/QMkvKB5euPM/s1600/nc+to+aus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H7cxh4fij64/UyCRmVSAO9I/AAAAAAAAANA/QMkvKB5euPM/s1600/nc+to+aus.jpg" height="220" width="400" /></a></div>Yup, I've been pretty restless for a over half a year now- after I decided I wasn't going back to university for my second year, I set out to find a new plan for the year ahead of me. Obviously, new plans that involve things you've never even thought about doing before take a bit of time to really come together, and mine (finally) has. I can tell you 100% honestly that there were many, many times when I felt hopeless and just plain stupid for exploring such seemingly unattainable territory.<br /><br />Now, on to the good stuff:<br />A week from this coming thursday, on the 20th of March, I will get on an airplane (or two, or three). I will not arrive at my destination until the 22nd, due to the length of the journey(s) and time zone changes!<br />For the next six months, I will be living with a beautiful family in (/on? it's been said both ways, so I'm not entirely sure) Gold Coast, Australia. I will be their au pair, or in simpler terms, live-in nanny. Why did I suddenly decide to become an au pair? Well, when I was left with nothing to do this fall, one of my friends told me that her sister was looking into it, and that I should maybe do some research. I love kids, I love travelling, I want to help people; the au pair thing just seemed to fit. I searched for a really long time before I found my particular host family (which I tend to just call "my family"... that seems kind of weird, but I can't help it!) I'm not really sure how much information is too much to post onto a public blog, regardless of the fact that not many people will read this, but there are two children, one girl and one boy, aged 6 and 8. They are so so darling and I can't wait to meet them :) I'll post more information whenever it feels alright to do so.<br /><br />Gold Coast is a very vacation-y town about an hour south of Brisbane. It's Australia's #1 retirement destination and averages 300 sunny days per year (poor me! NOT.) It is also known for it's gorgeous beaches. It will be fall when I arrive, and I will be there through the fall, winter, and early spring at least, but the lowest temperatures of the winter are said to be a mild 10 degrees Celsius, about 50 degrees Farenheit. Average temperatures around this time of year are still 80 (F), so even though it's not "summer" it's warm weather :)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the video I made about my move, give it a watch if you'd like!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wHWmMYkf7Q?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, as of now, this is what my life is focused around. I'm still putting off packing, it's a big, big job, but I WILL get it done, obviously! I feel like a lot of people think I'm not excited enough about this, but in all honestly, I just don't think I'll believe it's really happening until I'm on the plane or actually THERE. I've dreamt about it for so long, it just seems like another part of the daydream!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Maybe the lesson here is that life can be a daydream if you make it. (CHEEEEESE, I know, I'm an expert at the extra cheese.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So 'til there are more adventures/observations to be documented, have good days, weeks, months, lives... what's YOUR daydream?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">xx Kim</div>Kim Idolhttps://plus.google.com/112175488622455254429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3914865229311634157.post-76037791583984926552014-02-21T13:14:00.000-05:002014-02-21T13:27:59.194-05:00Let's take it easy and celebrate the malleable reality;<span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Coincidentally, this is my very first post on this blog. Coincidentally, I'm going to write about coincidences. Coincidentally, the way I am writing this is very clich<span data-dobid="hdw">é</span>. Coincidentally, I had to google 'cliche' because I don't know how to type an 'e' with an accent aigu yet.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Okay, this is going to be the last one- coincidentally, the title of this post is a lyric from Jason Mraz's song, "Live High", which played on shuffle by total coincidence while I was dancing in my kitchen, making lunch, and thinking about all of the coincidences that have happened today (it is only 12:41pm!) Coincidentally, I am usually waking up around this time, but today I got up quite early, which I'm very proud of :) (that one is really the last one).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Today's coincidences include:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">-I woke up just in time to see my mum (mom, mommy, mother, etc etc) off to work, which I rarely get to do.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">-It stopped raining just in time for me to leave the gym after yoga/cardio.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">-I saw a woman and her children who came into work earlier this week that happened to have made my day that day because of how nice and cheery they were while shopping in Target.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">-The cute bank teller was working when I went to the bank (this is more of a sad coincidence, considering he's only ever there when I put zero effort into my appearance.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Then, I thought I had run out of luck- while in the shower, my face wash container fell and split my toe up a bit. However, I had planned on shaving anyway and so spent more than enough time in the shower for the toe to be placed under running water and stop gushing blood by the time I got out (and it's not hurting me at all now.)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">So, I've even been able to take the not-so-happy coincidences that have occurred today with stride, and I'm in an incredible mood for it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Some days, I would read a post or article like this one, celebrating life's happy and sad coincidences, and think, "right, well good for you" but I'm hoping this positive momentum keeps up!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">I'm pretty sure one of the major reasons I'm feeling so positive is that I started the day with yoga. I literally rolled out of bed, washed my face/brushed my teeth, and grabbed a banana to eat on the way there. No time for phone checking and unproductive hullabaloo as usual, which I'm thinking is a very good thing.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">One of my favorite parts of today is that, coincidentally, I did not touch my laptop until I opened it to begin writing this post. I'm beginning more and more to finally start living out my belief that living life in the real world instead of the techno/internet world is way, <i>way</i> better.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Coincidentally, "Live High" encompasses all of that living stuff that I think quite well. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trJeelxl4mo" target="_blank">(Listen here if you haven't heard it before!</a>) // <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_9DmF-RW7Y" target="_blank">[Here is an alternate version that is my favorite]</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Lastly, here's my current phone wallpaper, which ties in nicely. (What a coincidence!)</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n3aHWwRYUjs/UweaoRyTHDI/AAAAAAAAALI/-jeMX3R84TY/s1600/live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n3aHWwRYUjs/UweaoRyTHDI/AAAAAAAAALI/-jeMX3R84TY/s1600/live.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Aaaaaaaand that's the end of my first post on this blog. Coincidentally, I am moving to the other side of the world in a month, so I will have lots and lots of adventures to write about soon. I guess I'll do more of an "introductory/about me" blog post soon.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Until then, maybe do some yoga and celebrate the malleable reality, alright?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">All the big hugs and love,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">xx Kim</span>Kim Idolhttps://plus.google.com/112175488622455254429noreply@blogger.com0